-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When an anonymous donor gave art to the Goodwill as an early holiday gift this month , the staff thought it was junk .

`` Across the board they thought it was ugly , '' said Shea Munroe , who sorts the art and collectibles donated at Goodwill Industries in Federal Way , Washington .

Co-workers told her : `` What is that ? And why would anybody want that ? ''

The art is actually a Salvador Dali original , by the master surrealist who in his day relished the role of public provocateur with his mind-bending imagery .

The work is a colored etching , and the framed piece even features the familiar Dali motif of a melting watch , placed on the wrist of a pointing hand .

Its title is `` Reflection '' or `` Reflections , '' from `` The Cycles of Life Suite , '' and the art is signed by Dali and numbered `` 126/150 . '' The work is also labeled as an `` etching and photolithography from collage . ''

Munroe was familiar with Dali , and she researched the work and its attached letter of authenticity .

She confirmed she had something special , though several co-workers knew nothing of the surrealist , not even his famously flamboyant moustache .

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`` This is probably the real deal , '' Munroe said of her discovery of the Dali work . `` The manager knew who he was right away , and we were both really excited . ''

Goodwill is now auctioning the art on its website . As of late Friday afternoon , the bidding reached $ 10,505 . Goodwill has noted that the artwork 's paper `` has some warping , as if from humidity , '' with some discolored speckling to one part of the matting and a few deep scratches and scuffs to the glass and frame , the website says .

The online auction ends Monday at 7:30 p.m. PST .

Goodwill does n't know the donor , who managed to sneak away during a busy time at the drop-off facility , Munroe said .

But the donor kept intact the back of the frame , which contained an envelope with a certificate of authenticity and registration number from a defunct gallery in North Hollywood , California .

An appraiser retained by Goodwill also confirmed the authenticity of the Dali , and the charitable organization also ensured the art was n't stolen , said Amanda Bedell , spokeswoman for Goodwill in Tacoma , Washington . The nonprofit provides employment and training programs to people with disabilities and disadvantages , and the group sells donated goods in more than 2,600 stores .

Goodwill held on to the Dali for a week in case someone claimed it was accidentally donated , Bedell said .

`` We do n't know the background of what the circumstances were , '' Bedell said of the donation . `` It 's a steady stream of people coming in . It 's not necessarily documented what every person comes in with . ''

About 74 million people in the United States and Canada donate annually to Goodwill , Bedell said .

`` We have a very busy donation door , and we have several people who work that door , '' Munroe said , explaining how the donor was able to remain unknown .

When a signed piece of art arrives at a donation center , Goodwill sets it aside for special review , Munroe said .

Most donated goods are sold at Goodwill stores , but prizes such as the Dali are auctioned online -- to maximize their value , said Munroe , who works for Goodwill 's online department .

The Dali is the highlight of her past six years of working for the nonprofit , in addition to her two years of service in the 1970s , she said .

Until this month , the biggest donations she oversaw were professional 35-mm cameras that fetched $ 8,400 on Goodwill 's auction website , she said .

To the anonymous donor , Munroe , 58 , offered a message : `` I would say thank you for helping us with our mission because we have a lot of programs that put people to work , and it 's people right here in the communities . ''

The bidding for the Dali piece is still short of the most prized art auctioned by Goodwill : A Frank Weston Benson oil painting , dated 1924 and also donated anonymously , was sold online by Goodwill in 2006 for $ 165,002 .

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An anonymous donor drops off a framed piece of art at a Goodwill in Washington state

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Goodwill staff thinks it 's `` ugly '' and declares : `` Why would anybody want that ? ''

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But it 's a Salvador Dali etching , signed by the master surrealist

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Goodwill is auctioning the Dali on its website until Monday : bidding is now $ 10k +